16 January 2014

Last chance to contact MSPs about marriage safeguards

The
Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill is now progressing through the Scottish
Parliament having passed comfortably through the Stage 1 vote of the whole
parliament in November and Stage 2 (a committee stage) this week. The final
vote (Stage 3) will be held within the next two or three weeks and represents
the last opportunity to contact MSPs on this issue.

All
MSPs will vote at Stage 3 on the final version of the bill and on amendments to
the bill. In common with many other organisations we have real concerns about
some of the practical implications of the bill as it currently stands and were
disappointed that the Equal Opportunities Committee voted down amendments to
the bill designed to protect the rights of those who hold to a traditional view
on marriage by a single vote in December. These were in areas such as charity
law, fostering and adoption and recognition that belief in traditional marriage
is a belief 'worthy of respect.'

We
understand there are likely to be further amendments lodged at Stage 3 and it
is important that MSPs are aware of the concerns of their constituents.Whatever the reality of opinion polling on
this issue (which is somewhat disputed) it is clear that the Scottish
Parliament is proportionately out of step with the population at large on this issue.
There are now more Scottish citizens who have signed the Scotland for Marriage
petition than are members of all the Scottish political parties combined and it
is important that MSPs understand the level of concern and the need to ensure delivery
of a robust bill that caters for all groups in Scotland, whatever their views
on marriage.

Please consider contacting your MSPs on this issue
over the next fortnight. It is the last opportunity.

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